“there’s a misconception that digital files are safe forever. In fact, files end up corrupted, data is improperly transferred, hard drives fail, formats change, work simply vanishes. ‘It’s a silent fire’” Via THR
Industry pros sweat the possibility that many digital files will eventually become unusable — an archival tragedy reminiscent of the celluloid era.
This is why people say piracy is preservation.
Yeah sure, but what’s the better option? 90% of silent films have been lost, most to various fires over a century. The Universal Studio fire of 2008 was catastrophic.
Each time there's a high profile case of something disappearing from the digital realm, on purpose or by some mishap, I always think of this passage.
Keep backups and store your drives properly using solid state storage when possible. It’s really not that hard
I have a bad feeling about this. Post-apocalypse, Elmo will be the last one standing.
Important article defeated by the fact the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER site is like being in Hell. It’s more an assault than a forum.
Data has mass (it requires time and energy to move from storage place to place) and expiration dates (the places aren’t at all durable). It’s more like produce than like edifice. Storing in a cool, dark place might be a good idea!
The law of impermanence is a fact of reality that cannot be changed; everything that comes to be eventually passes away. The path to peace and joy requires that we embrace change rather than pine for permanence.